Yesterday's Game Exemplified 2007

[LVSoxFan]

So there I was yesterday, spending just over two hours roasting in the sun watching the Sox embarass themselves and their fans. Again. At this point, when you pay money to see a team score literally no runs and blow what seem to be endless opportunities with RISP, you want to ask for it back. It wouldn't be such a big deal--a loss--but we've seen this kind of corpseball loss so many times this year we can't even keep track (check my sig).

 

How is it that you sweep the Tigers in Detroit (causing a quick flash of optimism) and then come home to blow not one but TWO consecutive series against Cleveland and... Seattle?

 

Friday night I was there for Elvis night and that was probably the best game I've seen all season. All-around great play. Momentum? Of course not--Saturday we get blown out. Let's not kid ourselves: it was 7-2 in the ninth and the only reason it looked close was Field's slam. Coming that close... you'd think it'd light a fire, right?

 

Wrong. Yesterday yet another dismal, offense-free game where everytime I looked up he had a two-hitter or then three-hitter going against us (eventually five).

 

That game, yesterday, really signaled the end of the season for me. Not that it hasn't been over for a while, but when there was at least some spark after Detroit, the Sox showed they waste no time extinguishing it, losing two home series in a row. And leaving that stinker from yesterday for us to remember as they go on the road.

 

Anybody notice all the empty seats yesterday, BTW? A beautiful, sunny hot day on a weekend and I don't think I've ever seen that much green seatage on such a nice day.

 

Who can blame anybody at this point? I truly regret having gone yesterday because I could have saved the money and done something more enjoyable than watching a team that just doesn't care.

 

And I think it's time that we admit that: they don't care. I'm not sure where it is in the clubhouse--where it begins and ends--but a team that can't put together more than a four game streak seemingly since July 2006 just doesn't want it.

 

Maybe it's time to call them what they really are: losers.

[CanOfCorn]

Ok, they are losers. Now give me your seats.

[LVSoxFan]

LOL. I stand the whole time.

 

To your point, what I'm trying to say is: I don't even KNOW where to begin on how to "fix" this team. KW didn't wave the white flag or clean house, so.... what? He's going shopping in the offseason?

 

Farm system? LOL. That sure has worked out.

 

Dye I thought was our trade bait but he didn't go anywhere (actually he's been playing well lately). Pods? Why, God... why Pods?

 

Is Crede even coming back? Will Owens ever hit, or is he another AAAnderson?

 

Contreras? What do we do with him?

 

Are Danks or Floyd for real? Or do we have a five hole? Again?

 

Just thinking about it all makes my head hurt, and no wonder Ozzie seems confused these days. I'm not sure threats work with the veterans and nobody's job seems in jeopardy so...

[Gregory Pratt]

Wrong year buddy.

[BigEdWalsh]

I guess I know where you're coming from. I felt the same way after the Detroit series as I'm sure many did. And they come home and everything fizzles....again. I'm not in the area anymore, but if I were I probably wouldn't want to go to all that many games right now. The way I've always looked at it, we're not Cub fans. We don't go in great numbers to watch bad baseball.

Don't get me wrong, I'd still go to some games because I love this team but there isn't anything to get excited about anymore and that sucks.

[LVSoxFan]

Wrong year buddy.

 

LOL. Oops. Hey I wonder if that was a Freudian slip. It really has seemed to be the same season since July 2006 hasn't it?

 

[Yossarian]

The White Sox were 56-29 on July 6, 2006. They then proceeded to lose two of the three to the Red Sox right before the All Star break. Despite their strong start they managed to limp home with 90 wins, in a year where it was again all for the taking. St. Louis Cardinals? GMAB. Anyway, since then they are a dreadful 88-106. That's more than a season of really lousy baseball. You're looking for a silver lining? With the present farm system and scouting in place? I'm afraid it may take a few years to get back to respectability. The Sox had a great chance to challenge Cub dominance and blew it.

[29andPoplar]

The White Sox were 56-29 on July 6, 2006. They then proceeded to lose two of the three to the Red Sox right before the All Star break. Despite their strong start they managed to limp home with 90 wins, in a year where it was again all for the taking. St. Louis Cardinals? GMAB. Anyway, since then they are a dreadful 88-106. That's more than a season of really lousy baseball. You're looking for a silver lining? With the present farm system and scouting in place? I'm afraid it may take a few years to get back to respectability. The Sox had a great chance to challenge Cub dominance and blew it.

 

Wow, pessimistic. You do realize things can change greatly from one year to the next, right? Everyone said Detroit was set up for a run of several years, their pitching has taken a big nose dive. Cleveland has looked very ordinary, as have the Twins. Yes the White Sox are horrible this year but that doesn't mean they're going into a cave until 2010. Players will be available, Sox have young pitching to trade and perhaps established pitching to trade. Other teams want that, the FA market for starting pitching is shaping up as woefully weak.

 

The farm director is in his first year on the job (Regier), he spent a lot of time in the Atlanta organization so I suspect he knows what he's doing. They shook up scouting and will do some thing to strengthen player development this winter. Lower level farm teams like Great Falls and Kannapolis are playing much better baseball this year.

 

There is no compelling reason to say this team is poised to win a division in 2008 but there's no compelling evidence they'll be awful either. Wait it out, lots can happen. Many here were crying that Buehrle was a goner, he's reupped and is still here. I don't get this crystal ball doom and gloom stuff, especially from a long time fan who knows baseball teams' fortunes can turn in one offseason.

[LVSoxFan]

I'm not saying we're doomed from now on, I'm saying I don't even know where to begin to fix this team.

 

Well actually I guess I do: offense. How many great starts this year have been wasted by our total lack of offense or situational hitting. In 2006 the starters were wobbly but this year (save for Contreras) they've been pretty good... which meant nothing when we couldn't even score a run.

 

Whether that means adding offensive-minded players or working with what you have (and firing Greg Walker) I honestly don't know.

[WCSox]

I'm not saying we're doomed from now on, I'm saying I don't even know where to begin to fix this team.

 

It sounds like you're talking about the Royals or something. The Sox still have a very talented core of players. The projected rotation of Mark, Jon, Javy, Danks, and Contreras is solid. Jenks has become a dominant closer. The middle of the lineup (Paulie, Thome, and an extended Dye) is solid. AJ is a decent veteran catcher. And it looks like Fields and Richar are both ready to be every-day starters.

 

Bringing in two veteran setup men, picking up the option on Uribe's contract, extending Dye, platooning Sweeney with Owens in CF, and bringing in a halfway decent veteran LF would make them good enough to contend next year, IMO.

 

[kwolf68]

It sounds like you're talking about the Royals or something. The Sox still have a very talented core of players. The projected rotation of Mark, Jon, Javy, Danks, and Contreras is solid. Jenks has become a dominant closer. The middle of the lineup (Paulie, Thome, and an extended Dye) is solid. AJ is a decent veteran catcher. And it looks like Fields and Richar are both ready to be every-day starters.

 

Bringing in two veteran setup men, picking up the option on Uribe's contract, extending Dye, platooning Sweeney with Owens in CF, and bringing in a halfway decent veteran LF would make them good enough to contend next year, IMO.

 

 

So basically change nothing except add middle relief help.

 

We tried this already...and it gave us 2007.

[Flash Tizzle]

So basically change nothing except add middle relief help.

 

We tried this already...and it gave us 2007.

Exactly.

 

How am I supposed to believe this supposed core of talented players will fare any different next season than this year or and the one before? They were incapable of winning the division in 2006 and 2007, yet, with only a couple tweaks, we'll be back atop the division? Yes, baseball history is full of teams who rebound 15+ games from one season to the next. Problem is, within this division -- with a "core" consisting of few within their prime -- mediocrity won't cut it, anymore.